THE HOUSEBOAT. 89 



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A handy rectangular sail of drill, with a few light bamboos across it at intervals, 

 hoisted up on the shears will be found of great service at times when travelling with 

 a fair wind through creeks where bridges are numerous ; while it can also be utilized 

 as an awning over the forward deck when necessary. 



Kennels. — In fitting up the kennels, care should be taken that there be a water-tight frame 

 at the after end of the kennel space, in order to prevent any moisture running aft 

 into the body of the boat. The best behaved dogs will sometimes soil their litter, 

 and neglect of the above precaution may probably lead to the discomfort of the 

 passengers. Overhead ventilation in the shape of a small hatchway or other con- 

 trivance is highly necessary to all kennels. 



Protection against Ice.— The best protection against ice is metal sheathing, pure 

 copper for choice, not heavier than l6 oz. The sheathing should extend some distance 

 above and below the up-country water-line, but not all over the bottom. The sheathing 

 is best nailed on without any paper or felt being placed between it and the plank : — 

 thick paint being all that is necessary. The sheathing should be fastened on with 

 copper "pump tacks," in length i" less than the thickness of planking — the tacks 

 spaced fairly close together. 



Ventilating Coamings for Stove-piping.— In carrying the piping of heating or cooking 

 stoves through the roofing of cabin, brass ventilating coamings should be fitted in 

 preference to any other arrangement. 



Cabin Furnishing and Fitting.— On this head the greatest diversity of opinion exists ; 

 so, with the exception of the remarks underneath as to fitting the cabin floor, the 

 sportsman will be left to his own devices. In all probability he will prefer to follow his 

 own individual taste and liking in the matter, despite of all that he reads on the subject. 



Cabin Floor. — The usual plan of laying the cabin floor with planks fore and aft, in one 

 length or nearly so, is not a good one; it will be found better to have the flooring laid 

 in short sections athwartships wherever the shape of the boat admits of it being so 

 done, as it enables the storage space underneath to be much more conveniently got 

 at. Each section should be about 3 feet fore and aft, and the planks forming it, 

 dowelled at edges and secured with battens nailed or screwed to their undersides, so 

 making each section a hatch as it were. If the work be carefully executed, the cabin 

 floor will be found to be more comfortable to walk upon than if laid fore and aft: all 

 creaking noises and the tendency to tip up being obviated by following the method 

 described. For convenience in lifting, each section of the floor should have a finger- 

 hole about I inch diameter bored through one end. 



Tender. — A shooting-boat cannot be considered perfectly equipped without a tender. The 

 tender will be found useful in ferrying trackers over creeks, taking passengers and 

 dogs to and from the shore while travelling and in a variety of other ways. A 

 serviceable tender can be built of soft-wood for $25 or a little over. 



Few men ever enjoyed a wider popularity than did the talented writer of this chapter. His hobby waa 

 boats, and he turned out nearly thirty years a^o the " Elizabeth " for Mr. Pinckvoss, which afterwards became 

 the " Whaui^" under the ownership of Mr. A.Shewan, and finally the " Lita'' when she passed into the hands of 

 Mr. E. O. Arbuthnot. On his leaving China, she become the property of a native gentleman, a thorough sportsman, 

 and still is one of the fiast^t and most comfortable crafts afloat, a lasting monument of Captain Croal's skill as 

 designer and builder. 



